Decisions

That the response, attached to this decision sheet as Annex 1, be approved.

The Cabinet Member for All-Age Learning determined the statutory notice, thereby bringing into effect the formal commencement of:

1.    A specialist centre with 21 places for pupils with communication and interaction needs (COIN) at Worplesdon Primary School in partnership with Freemantles School.

2.    A specialist centre with 21 places for pupils with communication and interaction needs (COIN) at Bell Farm Primary School.

The Cabinet Member noted the content of the Annual Report and the associated Statement of Purpose.

The Adult Social Care’s Accommodation with Care and Support Strategy (AwCS) was approved by Cabinet in July 2019, the strategy sets out the Council’s ambition to develop 725 affordable units of Extra Care Housing in Surrey by 2030. 

Approval to procure the Pond Meadow Extra Care Housing Provision via the Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) supply model on the site of the former Pond Meadow school was granted by Cabinet in October 2019. 

Subsequently, upon the conclusion of the tender process a 125 year contract will be awarded to Funding Affordable Homes Housing Association Limited (FAH).

RESOLVED:

1.    That further due diligence be conducted with the Council’s joint venture partner Places for People (“Joint Venture Partner”) with a view to leasing the Brockhurst and Pinehurst sites set out in the submitted report to Living+, which is the housing with care development and operator arm of Places for People to develop extra care housing on these sites. 

2.    That authority be delegated to the Director for Land and Property and the Executive Director for Adult Social Care in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health to make decisions on the final terms of any agreement or lease through the Joint Venture Partner for the Brockhurst and Pinehurst sites.

3.    That approval to procure so that a full tender process to identify a development partner for the former Pond Meadow School site set out in the paper can be conducted was agreed.

4.    That work continues to review the suitability of all of the sites owned by the Council for development of extra care housing as part of the Council’s Asset and Place Strategy was approved.

Reason for Decision:

The development of extra care housing on the three sites set out in the submitted report would represent a substantial contribution to the Council’s strategic objective to expand affordable extra care provision by 2030. 

The financial modelling set out in Part 2 of the report demonstrated that the development of extra care on the sites generated much greater financial benefits over a 40 year period than the opportunity cost of not selling the land, subject to a S123 Best Value report. Any lease that was agreed for a site would be negotiated with conditions that safeguard the Council’s position after the affordable extra care units become obsolete.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources & Performance Select Committee]

This report will re-state our commitment to the Community Vision for Surrey in 2030 and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy whilst providing a refreshed Organisation Strategy. Cabinet will be recommended to approve the refreshed Organisation Strategy 2020 – 2024 and endorse the council’s reshaped transformation programme.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet makes the following recommendation to Full County Council on 10 December 2019:

Cabinet recommendations to Full County Council:

Council are asked to approve the Surrey County Council Organisation Strategy 2020-2025.

Reason for Decision:

The refreshed Organisation Strategy reaffirms our commitment to the Community Vision for Surrey in 2030. It also sets out a roadmap for our audaciously ambitious agenda and how we will respond the complex and rapidly changing context we are working in with renewed energy and optimism. Delivering on these ambitions and priorities will in part be through the next phase of our forward-looking and ambitious transformation programme.

To approve the funding required for delivering a programme of flood alleviation activities across Surrey.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the council investment of £270m to deliver the objectives of Surrey’s Flood Risk Management Strategy be approved in principle.

2.    That the development of new governance arrangements to oversee the delivery of Surrey’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and separate arrangements for overseeing the delivery of the River Thames Scheme along with a risk sharing agreement be approved.  The details to be brought to Cabinet for further approval in early 2020.

3.    That the commissioning of a master planning exercise for the River Thames Corridor to maximise the opportunities from the River Thames Scheme be approved.

Reason for Decision:

The council and our partners’ current budget for flood alleviation work is very limited. There is not enough money to deliver the objectives of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for all of the areas at significant risk of flooding in the county. The floods in 2013/14 highlighted a number of risks across Surrey. If a flood event of a similar magnitude were to take place again in the coming years, the council’s inability to carry out work in the relevant areas due to resource and budget constraints means that many locations would continue to suffer the same, or worse, economic and social damage to their communities.

The success of the River Thames Scheme was crucial due to the large number of Surrey residents and businesses affected. By funding the scheme, the Council would unlock further opportunities for the region and contribute to a compelling long term vision for the Thames Corridor through ambitious master planning.

Strong effective governance will be essential in the delivery of this programme, the River Thames Scheme and the wider opportunities.  This will need to build on the existing arrangements.

Investing in our Flood Risk Management Strategy, including the River Thames Scheme, would help achieve the Council’s Vision for Surrey in 2030, specifically:

• Residents live in clean, safe and green communities, where people and organisations embrace their environmental responsibilities
• Journeys across the county are easier, more predictable and safer
• Well connected communities with effective infrastructure that grow sustainably

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment & Highways Select Committee]

Approve the business case for the project to provide a new school building for the existing school PLUS a 1Form Entry (1FE) expansion to the school.  To become 2FE infant and 3FE junior.  210 pupil places in the Cranleigh and surrounding areas of Waverley Borough.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the agreement of the detailed financial information for the rebuilding of the school as set out in the Part 2 annex, the business case for the rebuilding of the school be approved. 

Reason for Decision:

The proposal supports the Authority’s statutory obligation to provide sufficient school places to meet the needs of the population in the Cranleigh area.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources & Performance Select Committee]

To consider the report of the Waste Task Group and to decide 1) Whether to progress with closure of four recycling centres as detailed in the Cabinet report of 29 January 2019 and 2) Whether to progress with the introduction of charges for construction wood waste. 

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) at Bagshot, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham be kept open on their current operational days and that they revert to accepting wood in addition to the current types of recyclables.

2.    That the Leatherhead CRC be reopened on a Friday to ensure there is always a facility close to the Dorking site which is able to accept a full range of waste. Officers would also undertake a review of the opening hours of all CRCs to determine the costs and resident benefit of extended opening hours. Any changes will be agreed by the Director for Environment, Transport and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment & Waste.

3.    That wood and roofing felt charges not be introduced at any of the CRCs and alternative savings be sought through the implementation of initiatives to reduce waste volumes further at the CRCs, for example by the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras was approved. Further compensating savings should also be sought through initiatives to increase recycling rates at the kerbside and by seeking commercial opportunities which arise from the Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy.

4.    That the existing charging scheme for rubble, soil, plasterboard and tyres be retained was approved because removal of these charges was likely to result in a significant increase in volumes of waste dealt with at the CRCs and an associated cost in the order of £2 million per year.

5.    That Suez continue to develop the reuse shop offering, expanding the offering as far as possible and developing beneficial links with charities and other organisations such as HM Prison Service was approved. Officers would review the operation during 2020, exploring whether there were alternatives that could deliver better value for money with recommendations for any changes to be agreed by the Executive Director for Environment, Transport and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste.

6.    That the Cabinet Member for Waste and Environment lobby the government to remove the requirement to charge VAT at reuse shops was agreed.

7.    That the Council engage with the Surrey Environmental Partnership (SEP) to help develop a renewed county-wide promotional campaign aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of recycling targeting the lowest performers and promoting increased levels of recycling at our CRCs was agreed.

8.    That a strategy paper be prepared and presented to Cabinet in 2020 to take account of the Government’s Resource and Waste strategy and the changing economic drivers for the effective management of waste as a resource was agreed.

9.    That an annual charge of £8.50 be introduced for van and trailer permits from 1 January 2020 was agreed.

10.  That officers consider a business case for the introduction of Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to provide data on site usage and prevent the unauthorised use of CRCs by traders was agreed.

11.  That the Council, working with Surrey Environmental Partnership, deliver effective communication campaigns to increase the quality and quantity of recycling collected at the kerbside and at the CRCs was agreed.   

Reason for Decision:

To implement the recommendations of the Cabinet that were agreed at their meeting on 29 January 2019 taking into account the report of the Waste Task Group that was considered at the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee on 19 September 2019.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment & Highways Select Committee]

This report seeks Cabinet approval to proceed with appropriate procurement activities to replace or upgrade the existing SAP system at Surrey County Council.

RESOLVED:

1. To progress the procurement stage, based on a vendor neutral approach, to procure a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) corporate ERP system was approved.

2. That funding of £394k for programme resources to prepare for and deliver the procurement stage was approved.

3.    That a report would be brought back to Cabinet to seek approval to award a contract to the successful supplier following procurement activities and to approve implementation based on a full business case including firm costs was noted.

Reason for Decision:

The recommendation was to progress a vendor neutral Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) corporate system procurement to enable the council to fully evaluate the solution options available, to best meet its requirements and to drive best value for money through market competition. This approach would also enable the council to compare suppliers’ implementation approaches, and in so doing to best inform planning to minimise disruption for the organisation during the implementation phase.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources & Performance Select Committee]

To consider the month end budget report and make any recommendations as appropriate.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the transfer of a forced school’s conversion (Surrey Hills Primary School) revenue surplus of £38,654 to a sponsored academy be approved.

2.    That the Council’s forecast revenue and capital budget positions for the year was noted.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure equal treatment for forced academy conversions, the proposal is to transfer the surplus to Surrey Hills Primary School.

To note this report is to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for approval of any necessary actions.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources & Performance Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

It was agreed that non-exempt information may be made available to the press and public, where appropriate.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information under the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED:

That the decisions taken by Cabinet Members and the Committee-in-Common Subcommittee since the last meeting were noted.

Reason for Decision:

To inform the Cabinet of decisions taken by the Leader, Cabinet Members and Strategic Investment Board under delegated authority.

There were four questions from residents.  These and the responses were published with supplementary papers to the agenda.

There were five questions from three Members.  These and the responses were published with supplementary papers to the agenda.

There were none.

The Minutes of 24 September 2019 were approved as a correct record.

An apology was received from Mr Mel Few.

It was AGREED to submit the proposed attached response to the consultation outlined in the decision sheet.